Food cost for 4? Help!!!

[danceintherain]

I always go through and price meals for each trip. Our first on-property trip, we did the Dining Plan, and got around a 20% discount, but that was with the uneaten desserts and ordering something other than water with every meal. In reality, we won't order dessert with every meal and probably order water. We did 3 character meals using the dining plan on that trip, and they were some of the worst values on the dining plan. Our best value was Le Cellier, which is now 2 TS credits, so we wouldn't get the same value if we did it again. If it was free, and we couldn't get any other discounts, then I would consider it, but paying as much as it is now is doesn't work for us. Once we have kids between 3 & 9, we may reconsider it, but even then I doubt it will come out as a better deal.

When I was growing up and we stayed off property, we had maybe one token meal on the property. We ate breakfast at our condo, packed a lunch, and CS for dinner. Going back to that now would be hard for me, because I don't want to do any cooking (or cleaning) on vacation, but if it was Disney off-property or no Disney, I would do it. (Disclaimer: I haven't been to Disney in almost 2 years)

Basically, you have to decide what is more important to you. If you really want a good deal, then you'll have to do the research to figure out which option will work best for you. If you want convenience and don't care if you're actually ordering things you don't want and/or not getting a good deal, then staying on property and purchasing the dining plan will control how much you actually spend beforehand.

 

[danceintherain]

I thought I'd link a couple threads that might help you get an idea of what you can get paying OOP

This is a little old, so the pricing towards the beginning won't be valid, but you can still get the same idea.
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2684936

This one is a spin-off thread after the price increases.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2878168

Neither one includes many character meals, but if you use the general concept and fill in a few character meals throughout your trip, I think it's a perfectly reasonable solution to your problem.
Unless, of course, you do eat exactly as the dining plan suggests for every meal.

 

[maggs1035]

Well guys! You all have great ideas, and I did find a whole house with a pool for $870 for the week, but things have changed a bit..... We are adding our 19 yr old daughter to the package

So now that there is 4 adults a one child, is the dining plan any better?

 

[torinsmom]

Well guys! You all have great ideas, and I did find a whole house with a pool for $870 for the week, but things have changed a bit..... We are adding our 19 yr old daughter to the package

So now that there is 4 adults a one child, is the dining plan any better?

Well, with 5, you will need two rooms, won't you? That will definitely add some $$$ to the total cost if you stay onsite. Now, with your offsite house, it won't add anything to lodging. Either way, there is one more mouth to feed.

 

[maggs1035]

Well, with 5, you will need two rooms, won't you? That will definitely add some $$$ to the total cost if you stay onsite. Now, with your offsite house, it won't add anything to lodging. Either way, there is one more mouth to feed.

If we stay on property we had planned on getting a AoA family suite with or without her, so it didn't change the room rate, but we have to add tickets, and dining plan (if that's how we go) with the house we just bring her and pay oop for tickets and food anyway, so lodging wise the house is way cheaper! (family suite is a tad over $2500....YIKES ) We really do love staying on property and the dining plan, but this is a big trip and I may want to cut cost!

 

[shell8558]

Just got back from my first offsite/ non dining plan visit(there are 4 of us, kids are 11 & 13). We stayed at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and we absolutely loved it! (shared a 3 bedroom condo with my sister and parents) We were there for 7 nights and spent about $700.00 on food. This includes a trip to Walmart to purchase sandwich supplies, breakfast items, etc. We ate one meal in the park each day and one meal in the condo. (5 quick service meals, one meal at Ohanas, one meal at Mama Melrose. Also includes ice cream, cookies, water, churros, etc.) Since we drove, we did bring other various snacks, water ands drinks with us. However, we did spend a considerable amount less this year and still enjoyed our trip! Good luck!

 

[torinsmom]

If we stay on property we had planned on getting a AoA family suite with or without her, so it didn't change the room rate, but we have to add tickets, and dining plan (if that's how we go) with the house we just bring her and pay oop for tickets and food anyway, so lodging wise the house is way cheaper! (family suite is a tad over $2500....YIKES ) We really do love staying on property and the dining plan, but this is a big trip and I may want to cut cost!

Wow, $870 vs. $2500 is a big difference. Did you check the link for the 5 bedroom pool home I posted? That one is only $625/week, so even cheaper. Anyway, you could eat a TS a day and still come out way ahead I bet. You would all be more rested too, since you'd be able to spread out. I think the only way to decide is to run the numbers. I guess I am so used to doing budget trips that it would be a no brainer for me. I know some say they'd rather have no trip than have a budget trip, but I obviously don't agree.

What does your DH think?

 

[maggs1035]

Wow, $870 vs. $2500 is a big difference. Did you check the link for the 5 bedroom pool home I posted? That one is only $625/week, so even cheaper. Anyway, you could eat a TS a day and still come out way ahead I bet. You would all be more rested too, since you'd be able to spread out. I think the only way to decide is to run the numbers. I guess I am so used to doing budget trips that it would be a no brainer for me. I know some say they'd rather have no trip than have a budget trip, but I obviously don't agree.

What does your DH think?

My DH likes being on property and the dining plan, but he doesn't do any of the budget or planning, I run some things by him but I plan it all! He said to do the house if i want too, but he's partial to the other way, so are the kids? But i think that's just because it's what they are used too. They don't want to have to ask for money for a snack or something? But I could get around that by giving everyone there own gift cards.

I will miss the luxury of being able to send my purchases to my room, and walking down to the food court for ice cream sundae, etc... I don't know what to do, who knows I may like staying off property better, but I won't know until I try! I did look at the link you gave me, I haven't called yet, I've been so busy adding my daughter (19) to our cruise, I didn't get to that part yet!
Garage sale tomorrow, maybe my daughter and I can sit down and figure out what we would spend on food oop. (If sale isn't too busy)

 

[danceintherain]

From my calculations, it seems that the Dining Plan is only a good deal if you're doing a lot of character meals with children between 3 & 9. Since you have only 1 child to 3-4 adults, the savings with the child plan probably won't outweigh your losses on the adult plan. It is possible to get a good deal with the adult plan, but a little more difficult.
In general, you have to be planning on ordering and eating every single entitlement on the plan whether you get the dining plan or not. If you stray a little, you may end up paying extra out of pocket for things you want while paying for things on the dining plan you don't want.

Also, the other thing that makes the DP not work for us is the inclusion of the resort mugs. For some people this is a great inclusion, but for us it doesn't make sense, because we're not huge coffee or soda drinkers. We probably got the value's worth on our trip WITHOUT the DP, but even then it was a stretch, because we mostly ate at the Food Court for breakfast, and juice & milk aren't included. The hot chocolate was nice, but even in November it wasn't cold enough most of the time to really make it a huge draw. If we had been on the dining plan, it likely would have been a wash, because the few meals we did eat at the food court would have included a soda.

What you have to keep in mind is that the Dining Plan is not guaranteed savings. It's convenient, yes, but if you really want to save money it's too restrictive.

 

[torinsmom]

I stayed onsite for a few trips, but stayed offsite out of necessity a few years ago. I didn't expect to like it so much! I loved being able to spread out, and being able to watch tv after my son went to bed without worrying about waking him. I loved having more than one bathroom, since it meant we could get ready more quickly in the morning. I loved having a full size fridge and microwave, and even....gasp....an oven(frozen lasagna or pizza is cheap and filling) Last trip, we really enjoyed having the kids swimming right outside the living room door and not having to trek to the pool, bringing towels, sunscreen, snacks, etc. I even loved having a washer/dryer, because it gets hot and being able to wash clothes meant I could pack lighter. I loved driving to and from the parks in the AC, instead of standing in those long lines for the buses. I loved having somewhere to take a break where we could do all of the above instead of everyone in the family cramming into a small room and trying to relax.

I am about to start doing foster care, and I know I will do onsite for each foster child's first trip, just for the Disney magic, but once they have that, I'll go back to offsite.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Have you considered looking into DVC?

A one bedroom suite at a deluxe hotel is likely comparable in sleeping arrangements to the AoA family suites and they are reaaaaaally nice rooms.

A full week in July at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a 1 bedroom value view is 188 points. If you could rent at $11 a point, it would be $2068 (but try and find $10 a point if you can for even bigger savings!!) and you'd have both a kitchen at your disposal (if you want to save in the food budget area) but you'd also be able to add the dining plan as well if you wanted.

If you're thinking that AKL is a bit far from the action (we never felt that way when we were there and we LOVED the resort) you'll have your car so you won't have to rely on Disney transportation so getting around will be quick and you'll have a parking pass for the parks.

You can save money without the dining plan and still eat well but if it's a thing the family loves, I'd think long and hard before deciding to go without it.

We stayed off site on our first trip and I doubt I'd ever be induced to do it again. Our second trip was a DVC booked trip (2 nights at SSR with the deluxe plan and 6 nights at AKL with the regular dining plan) and our third trip was 6 nights at Pop with free dining (which we upgraded from the QSDP to the DDP).

Our family (DH, myself, DD9 and DS7) prefers staying onsite but I'm pretty certain we'd never do the DDP again. Character dining was important on the first three trips but we only have a few left to try and it IS possible to eat at one or two character meal places in a vacation without breaking the bank. Don't believe me? Check out this thread:

If I Only had $50 a day to spend on food at Disney...

I think it entirely possible for you to feed your family of five with an average of $225 a day and that's tax and tip included.

And in terms of the older DS wanting to be able to get a drink or an ice cream without having to ask for money...there are always gift cards. Load one of those bad boys up with money and tell him it's his to use for all food and beverage related expenses.

I hope this works out for you and you can book a great and affordable family vacation!! If I can help with anything else, please let me know!

 

[Marionnette]

Our family (DH, myself, DD9 and DS7) prefers staying onsite but I'm pretty certain we'd never do the DDP again. Character dining was important on the first three trips but we only have a few left to try and it IS possible to eat at one or two character meal places in a vacation without breaking the bank. Don't believe me? Check out this thread:

If I Only had $50 a day to spend on food at Disney...

I think it entirely possible for you to feed your family of five with an average of $225 a day and that's tax and tip included.

Thanks for posting a link to that thread. I would not have known to look on the restaurant boards for that. It really does show that it is possible to eat a decent diet at Disney without having to spend a lot of money. You just need to know where to look for the best deals!

 

[kwhite1022]

One more singing the praises of staying off site. Did my first trip that way this past Spring, had lots of angst beforehand wondering if we'd like it. We LOVED it, and will never stay on site again. For us the space to spread out, and the use of a kitchen/laundry were such perks. Nothing like having your coffee out on the balcony while everyone is still sleeping and not having to deal with the insanity that is CS breakfast at a resort...or a character buffet. We still did rope drop, just took a break in the afternoon, which we had done when we stayed onsite, so that didnt change for us. I had no choice but to try offsite, as it was the only way $$wise we could do the trip....and Im so glad my hands were tied, it opened my eyes and will now allow us to go back in a couple years, vs every 5 years!! We stayed at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, but there are ALOT of choices out there, hope you find the one that works best for you and your family.

 

[clutter]

OP it sounds like its really a matter of your family's preference. While I'm all for saving money, you simply have to analyze if it fits your lifestyle.

Lots of folks enjoy off-site. The people that do seem to like to go on vacation and visit Disney. They like to go back to their condo and spread out. Many seem to like to eat one or more meal at the condo, and tend to eat things that are fairly inexpensive. (I see lots of references to subs, tacos, pasta etc.) I visualize that many (not all, certainly!) families go to the parks for the day, go home and hang out, play games. To me, it's much like a beach or lake vacation but going to the parks during the day instead of the beach. You go somewhere on vacation, make a home away from home and do stuff.

On-site folks seem to have more of a mix. Many of the moms are of the 'I'm on vacation, I'm not thinking of cooking' variety. While I'm sure some of the off-site folks do this as well, I tend to visualize on-site people more of the go to the parks, go back to swim, go back to the parks kind of people. They seem to be more of the type that like to vacation 24/7. When you go on vacation, you're on vacation. Part of the vacation is not being in a home away from home.

It's pretty obvious that I'm in the on-site category, I'm sure. I commute a lot everyday. When I'm on vacation, besides the fact that I don't want a kitchen reminding me that I could cook because I won't on vacation, I don't want to commute to the parks. Sure, a day trip off site is a day trip. When I go to the beach, I pay extra to be on the beach so I don't have to load up and schlep to the beach. If I can't afford it, I find a cheaper beach town rather than get a place across the highway in a nicer town. Or I save more until I can afford it. So yes, it does cost more to stay on-site. And it may cost more to buy the DDP (it didn't cost us more in the past, but that was two price increases ago), but I'm willing to pay for it because I do like the convenience, and I love having those days to not think about counting pennies.

Shoot, there are all kinds of ways to spend less money. Do you buy the cheapest car available? Do you live in the cheapest neighborhood you can find? Do you only eat ramen? Budgetary choices are all about balancing what you pay and what you perceive that you get for it. So I am happy paying more to stay on-site and buy the DDP, because I like the way it works for me. Other people are happy paying less and staying off site because it works for them. That's really your on-site/off-site question.

As for your original question of how much to feed your family, go to allears and spend a typical day in the parks. Price out a dinner at a character meal and one at counter service. Don't forget to add drinks (and dessert if you'd buy them anyway), taxes and tip. Price out a regular sit-down meal, maybe at a place like Kona, and a CS. Again, don't forget to add all of the drinks, tax and tip. Add $4.00 to each for a snack. I'm thinking it'll probably be close to break-even. Is it worth potentially losing a couple bucks a day for convenience and because your family enjoys it? If you don't do the DDP, are you going to be counting the costs at every meal to ensure that you don't happen to end up spending more than the DDP would have cost?

Good luck, and have a great trip!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[maggs1035]

Have you considered looking into DVC?

A one bedroom suite at a deluxe hotel is likely comparable in sleeping arrangements to the AoA family suites and they are reaaaaaally nice rooms.

A full week in July at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a 1 bedroom value view is 188 points. If you could rent at $11 a point, it would be $2068 (but try and find $10 a point if you can for even bigger savings!!) and you'd have both a kitchen at your disposal (if you want to save in the food budget area) but you'd also be able to add the dining plan as well if you wanted.

If you're thinking that AKL is a bit far from the action (we never felt that way when we were there and we LOVED the resort) you'll have your car so you won't have to rely on Disney transportation so getting around will be quick and you'll have a parking pass for the parks.

You can save money without the dining plan and still eat well but if it's a thing the family loves, I'd think long and hard before deciding to go without it.

We stayed off site on our first trip and I doubt I'd ever be induced to do it again. Our second trip was a DVC booked trip (2 nights at SSR with the deluxe plan and 6 nights at AKL with the regular dining plan) and our third trip was 6 nights at Pop with free dining (which we upgraded from the QSDP to the DDP).

Our family (DH, myself, DD9 and DS7) prefers staying onsite but I'm pretty certain we'd never do the DDP again. Character dining was important on the first three trips but we only have a few left to try and it IS possible to eat at one or two character meal places in a vacation without breaking the bank. Don't believe me? Check out this thread:

If I Only had $50 a day to spend on food at Disney...

I think it entirely possible for you to feed your family of five with an average of $225 a day and that's tax and tip included.

And in terms of the older DS wanting to be able to get a drink or an ice cream without having to ask for money...there are always gift cards. Load one of those bad boys up with money and tell him it's his to use for all food and beverage related expenses.

I hope this works out for you and you can book a great and affordable family vacation!! If I can help with anything else, please let me know!

Can you please give me information on DVC points? I know nothing about that but would like to investigate it! I would love to stay at AKL, but never thought we could afford it!

 

[maggs1035]

OP it sounds like its really a matter of your family's preference. While I'm all for saving money, you simply have to analyze if it fits your lifestyle.

Lots of folks enjoy off-site. The people that do seem to like to go on vacation and visit Disney. They like to go back to their condo and spread out. Many seem to like to eat one or more meal at the condo, and tend to eat things that are fairly inexpensive. (I see lots of references to subs, tacos, pasta etc.) I visualize that many (not all, certainly!) families go to the parks for the day, go home and hang out, play games. To me, it's much like a beach or lake vacation but going to the parks during the day instead of the beach. You go somewhere on vacation, make a home away from home and do stuff.

On-site folks seem to have more of a mix. Many of the moms are of the 'I'm on vacation, I'm not thinking of cooking' variety. While I'm sure some of the off-site folks do this as well, I tend to visualize on-site people more of the go to the parks, go back to swim, go back to the parks kind of people. They seem to be more of the type that like to vacation 24/7. When you go on vacation, you're on vacation. Part of the vacation is not being in a home away from home.

It's pretty obvious that I'm in the on-site category, I'm sure. I commute a lot everyday. When I'm on vacation, besides the fact that I don't want a kitchen reminding me that I could cook because I won't on vacation, I don't want to commute to the parks. Sure, a day trip off site is a day trip. When I go to the beach, I pay extra to be on the beach so I don't have to load up and schlep to the beach. If I can't afford it, I find a cheaper beach town rather than get a place across the highway in a nicer town. Or I save more until I can afford it. So yes, it does cost more to stay on-site. And it may cost more to buy the DDP (it didn't cost us more in the past, but that was two price increases ago), but I'm willing to pay for it because I do like the convenience, and I love having those days to not think about counting pennies.

Shoot, there are all kinds of ways to spend less money. Do you buy the cheapest car available? Do you live in the cheapest neighborhood you can find? Do you only eat ramen? Budgetary choices are all about balancing what you pay and what you perceive that you get for it. So I am happy paying more to stay on-site and buy the DDP, because I like the way it works for me. Other people are happy paying less and staying off site because it works for them. That's really your on-site/off-site question.

As for your original question of how much to feed your family, go to allears and spend a typical day in the parks. Price out a dinner at a character meal and one at counter service. Don't forget to add drinks (and dessert if you'd buy them anyway), taxes and tip. Price out a regular sit-down meal, maybe at a place like Kona, and a CS. Again, don't forget to add all of the drinks, tax and tip. Add $4.00 to each for a snack. I'm thinking it'll probably be close to break-even. Is it worth potentially losing a couple bucks a day for convenience and because your family enjoys it? If you don't do the DDP, are you going to be counting the costs at every meal to ensure that you don't happen to end up spending more than the DDP would have cost?

Good luck, and have a great trip!!!!!!!!!!!

I priced out every day there, and what I thought each person would eat and included $20 for snacks and it came out to be almost $1600, so it doesn't seem like it would be a big savings? The only savings would come from cheaper accommodations? I think we will just book our normal trip with DDP and hope for free dining and if that doesn't happen we can always change some things up to downgrade. Im pretty sure my boxer is pregnant so that will help a lot.

I would like more info on DVC points that you rent from people? If anyone is willing to share?

 

[delmar411]

there is a DVC point rental board here on the DIS. Just go out to the main directory and scroll down.

The point charts linked are listed in the DVC section within the top banner area.

 

[stayhomemom77]

there is a DVC point rental board here on the DIS. Just go out to the main directory and scroll down.

The point charts linked are listed in the DVC section within the top banner area.

This. If you are familliar with the program, you know that people often rent out the points they have for their DVC timeshare that they can't/won't use in a given use year.

So, go on the DVC rent/trade thread and look to see who's offering points for your time frame and do a little investigating.

If you google "dvc points chart 2012" you'll get the info for how many points are charged for the different resorts and room types for the date ranges.

Animal Kingdom Lodge seems to be the cheapest option, followed closely by Boardwalk. I'm going to do the Boardwalk next I think. We rented two years ago with great results but that particular DVC owner hasn't posted to rent out any points since that time so I can't recommend him.

Thoroughly explore the DVC threads and you'll get great tips on how to rent points safely.

Good luck!